Chief Air Force Rabbi Resigning

RabbiMosheRavadasked commanderIdoNechushtan of the Air Force, Tuesdayto finish his termas chief rabbiof the Air Force. The lieutenant colonelwill stayin the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) until retirementbutwillnothave a commandfunction due to hislack ofconfidence in the system, against the background of the IDF's attemptto harmreligious and hareidisoldiers.

Rabbi Ravad resigned from the Shachar Kachol program for hareidi-religious soldiers last week because he felt that the IDF was trying to force hareidim to serve alongside women, despite promising them it would respect their religious beliefs and allow them to serve in male-only environments. Major General Nechushtan rejected a recommendation by Chief IDF Rabbi Rafi Peretz that Nechushtan fire Rabbi Ravad, adding that he was doing his job well. Rabbi Ravad rejected Peretz's claim that Ravad was hurting hareidi recruitment, countering that the military establishment and the military rabbinate was at fault.